Deflector for sheet feeding mechanism



Dec. 17, 1940. M- Q GUDGER DEFLECTOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 3Sheets-Sheety l Filed'June 13, 1939 Dec. 17, 1940.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l5, 1939 Dec. 17, 1940.

M. s. GUDGER DEFLECTOR FOR SHEETFEEDING MECHANISVI Filed June 13, 1939As sheets-sheet s rl I Patented Dec. 17, 1940 Uurrlzo STATES DEFLECTORFon SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Morris Selleck Gudger, New York, N. Y.,assignor to American Type IFounders, Inc., Elizabeth,

AN. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 13, 1939, SerialNo. 278,942

Claims.

for example, a slitter, shears, punch press, lith- @graphic or otherprinting press, or the like.

- More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide, in amachine of this type, novel means for calipering the sheets being fedand for deecting multiple sheets and sheets of a thickness greater thanthat for which the device is set, and assembling said rejected sheets ata point of delivery separate fromthe destination of the singly fedsheets which are Within the predeterlmined limits of thickness.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision ofan adjustable calipering or gauging element adapted to be intermittentlybrought to a. position adjacent a feed roller so as to be actuated bycontact with abnormally thick or multiple sheets. When contacted by suchsheets,.th'e'caliper-detector is moved and, through suitable mechanicaland pneumatic connections, operates certain deecting elementsl which aremadeto intersect the normal path of delivery of the sheets and thusdivert these abnormal sheets tol a separate delivery point. Means arealso provided for adequately prolonging the timethatthe switch ordiverter is inoperative position and for, returning it to idle positionfor the normal feeding of the sheets.

One type of primary separator and feeder with which the present diverteror rejector may be employed is disclosed in the copending applicationSerial No. 281,989, led June 29, 1.93.9, jointly by Frederick W. Seyboldand myself.-

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing specification when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated by wayof example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal'section of the forward portion of asheet feeder embodying the principles of my invention and illustratingin detail the calipering and deflecting mechanism,

this view being taken substantially7 online i-l 5.3 of Figure 3;

(c1. 20s-ss) j Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 1showing the calipering device in raised position; y

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper part of theframe of the machine showing the sheet forwarding and deilecting.mechanism in plan; f

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical longitudinal section of` thecalipering device;

Figure 5 is a v iew partly in side elevation and A,m

partly in vertical longitudinal section of a drop roller arrangement;l yy Figure 6 is a View in vertical longitudinal section ofthe forwardportion of the machine showing the paths of movement of the normalsheets15 and of the thick or multiple. sheets, the deector element beingtripped to divert rejected sheets;

and -4 Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary views in vertical section ofdetails of the deecting mech- 2 anism illustrated in Figure 6.

Although the present invention may be applied to sheet feeding anddelivering apparatus of variousA kinds, it has been illustrated inconnection with a feeder of the type disclosed in them copendingapplications,l Serial No. 281,989 and Serial No. 281,990, toWhichreference may be had for further details of the sheet separatingand feeding devices andthe mechanism for elevating-theplatformsupporting thepile of sheets. 3( .A portion -of the upper partof the supporting frame and housing of the feeder is indicatedat I0, andit will be seen by referring to Figures 1 and 3 that the upper portionof the frame is provided with forwardly projecting side members l2 3,which serve to support most of the mechanism comprised'in the rejectingor deflecting conveyor provided by the present invention.'

In Figures 1 and 2 the pile supporting platform is indicated at i4 'andthe pile of sheets is 4, designated by the letter S. A stationaryforward wall l5 prevents displacement of the sheets forwardly until theyare separated and removed by the devices provided for this purpose.

One of the suction gripper devices for separat- 4 I ing and removing thesuccessive top `sheets T from the pile is indicated at I6 in Figures 1and 2,k these members being provided with suction cups i9 at their lowerends for gripping and transporting' the sheets. Inh the position of the5 gripper shown in Figure'2, the sheet T has been raised from the pile Sand-moved a short distance forwardly toward the feed roll 2t.l Thegripper continues its forward-movementunti1 it reaches the positionshown inFigiire l, where- 5 upon the forward edge of the sheethas'passed a short distance beyond the verticalmcent-er line of the feedroll 20 and has been seized between the feed roll 20 and the drop roll22. In order to aid in guiding the forward edge of a sheet T towardthe/roller, the upper stationary guide strips 24 are provided, thesestrips being pivotally supported adjacent their rear ends upon the rockshaft 25 and connected by the rod 23 by which they may be raised to avertical inoperative position. The shaft 25 also serves to sup-k portthe laterally spaced brackets 26 which carry the drop rolls 22, as shownin Figures 3 and 5.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the drop rolls are carried uponthe stems 28 which are resiliently seated within the cylindricalportions 29 of the brackets 26 by means of the spring 30. A pin and slotarrangement 3| prevents rotation of the drop roll in a horizontal plane.The drop roll brackets 26 are provided with lower curved and taperedguide portions 32 which assist in guiding the forward edge of the sheetbetween the feed and drop rolls. 'I'he shaft 25 upon which the drop rollbrackets are secured is continually urged in a clockwise direction by"means of the spring 42 which surrounds the rod 43 and is compressedbetween the spring seat 44 held by pin 41v upon the rod adjacent itsupper end and a seat 45 which bears against the stationary stud 46through which the rod 43 extends at its lower end. The upper end of therod is pivotally connected as at 48 with the crank arm 50 secured to theshaft 25. Another arm 52 secured to the shaft is provided with a roller53 which follows the cam 54 fixed to the cam shaft 55. Upon the outerend of the cam shaft 55 there is provided a sprocket 56 kwhich isconnected by means of the chain 51 with a sprocket 58 on the shaft 35.It will be seen that by this means the drop roll 22 is intermittentlyraised and lowered at predetermined points in the cycle of operation ofthe feeder so as to press upon the sheets as they are being forwarded bythe feed roll 20.

The feed rolls 20 are carried by the rotary shaft 35 which is provided`with suitable bearings in the frame extension I2 and is adapted to bedriven by the sprocket chain 36 which connects the shaft 35 with theconveyor driving shaft 38 carried by the forward end of the side frameextensions I2. l This shaft 38 is operativelyA connected by means of thebevel gears 39 with the initial drive vshaftplmwhlch is adapted to besuitably connected and driven in synchronism with a machine to which thesheets are to be fed. I

From the feed roll 20 the sheets are forwarded over the lower guidestrips 60, which are securedat their rear downwardly projecting ends tothe cross b ar 6|, and thence onto the tapes 62 of an endless conveyor.The'tapes 62 pass around the driving rollers 63 carried on the conveyorshaft 38 and at their forward ends are guided around the elongatedl roll65 which is carried on the shaft 66. The ends of this shaft bracket 90.

12 which connect the arms 1| with the shaft or cross bar 6|, the links12A passing through the bar and being adjustable by means of the nuts13.

Pressure rollers 15 are carried by the shaft 16, the ends of which aresecured as at 11 within the upper portions of the brackets 61. Pressurerollers also cooperate with the rollers 63 on the conveyor driving shaft38, these rollers being designated by the reference numeral and aretrunnioned within the bifurcated ends 8| of the blocks 82 pivotallymounted upon the shaft 85 which extends between vthe conveyor supportingbrackets 10 above the belt conveyor mechanism.

`Thus far there has been described substantially all of the conveyingand transferring mechanism necessary to effect the normal movement ofthe sheets from the suction grippers I6 to a receiving station beyondthe forward end of the conveyor tapes 62, which station may be disposedupon a suitable machine for processing the sheets. 'I'he mechanism fordetecting the feeding Vof abnormally thick sheets or multiple sheetswill now be described, together with the mechanism for rejecting suchabnormally fed sheets and deflecting them to a separate delivery pointfrom the delivery station of the normally singly fed sheets.

Secured to the same shaft 25 that carries the drop rolls 22 is thebracket 90 which may be4 disposed substantially centrally of the shaft.The bracket is intermittently oscillated in the same way as the droprollers are moved and it is provided with caliper mechanism which isbrought down into contact with the sheets passing between the feed rolls20 and the drop rolls 22. The caliper mechanism comprises the smallroller 92 carried upon the lower end oi the stud 93 which is verticallyslidable within the bracket 90, rotation being prevented by the key 94which slides within the keyway 95 formed in the bore of the bracketthrough which the stud moves. The upper end of the stud 93 is threadedas at 91 for the reception of the nut 90. The nut 98 is provided withthe annular grooved portion 99 which receives the bifurcations of therear end of the-lever |00 which is pivoted to the bracket 90 as at I0 I.end of the lever is adjustably connected as at |02 with the lowerthreaded end of the valve stem |03. The valve body |05, carried at theupper end of the stem, seats upon the beveled rim |06 of the upwardlyopening chamber |01 formed in the upward extension |08 of the Apassageway 0 leads from this chamber to a threaded opening into whichfits a nipple |I2 which is connected to a'tube ||4 Which'communicateswith a pipe ||5 leading from a suitable source of vacuum to the inletpassageway ||1 of the pneumatic cylinder H8.

noted that the relative application of forces to the lever |00 is suchthat a slight upward movement of the caliper wheel 92 will open thevalve to a considerable extent. A knurled knob 2| may be provided uponthe valve stem |03 for adjustment purposes, as indicated in Figures 1and 2. In order to set the caliper to the limit of thickness of thesheets being fed, its position may be adjusted with relation to thelever |00 by rotation of the nut 98. The upper end of the nut 98 isprovided Awith an annular series of indentations ||9 within which theball |22 is adapted to be resiliently pressed by means of the spring|23. The ball and spring are seated 'I'he forward v within the bore |24of the upper portion of the bracket and serve as stop means formaintaining the adjusted position of the nut 98.

A piston |25 is reciprocably mounted in the 5 cylinder ||8 and isconnected by means of a rod |26 with an arm |21 fixed upon thetransverse wshaft |28 adjacent. one end thereof. At points near bothends of the shaft |28 there are secured the blocks |30 which areprovided with fingers l |32 which are disposed beneath and are designedto support the'rollersv |34 secured upon the ends of the cross rod 35.This rod passes through the deilector fingers |36, of which there arethree, disposed in spaced relation across the l width of the conveyormechanism. These deflector fingers |36 are pivotally mounted between thebifurcations at the rearward ends of the blocks |38 secured tothe crossrod 85. The rody |35 and its supported deflector fingers |36 are urgeddownwardly so that the rollers |34 continually press upon the fingers|32, by means of the spring |39 which is secured to the frame extension|2 as at |40.

The operation of the caliperin'g and deflecting mechanism will now bedescribed. When abnormally thick sheets or multiple sheets areinadvertently fed onto the feed roll 20, the descending caliper roller92 is moved upwardly with respect to the bracket 90, thus swinging thelever |00 and opening the valve |05. This breaks the vacuum in thepiping ||4, ||5, and permits the piston |25 to move outwardly within thecylinder ||8, and the blocks |30 with their fingers |32 to movedownwardly under the influence of the spring' |39. This causes thefingers |36 to pass across the path of the sheets over the strip 60 ontheir way to the conveyor tape 62 and diverts them upwardly over thefingers |36 and the upper surfaces of the tapered blocks |38 so that 40they pass between the'upper rotating feed rollers |45 and the lowerpressure rollers |46 which are carried by theends of the tapered blocks|41 which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 85,'adjacent theroller-carrying blocks 82. A spring |48 serves to urge the blocks |41and 82 in opposite directions of rotation around the shaft 85. One endof the spring |48 is connected to an upper left-hand portion of theblock |41.as at |49, and the other end of each of the springs |48 ,no isconnected as at |50 to a portion of the block 82 to the right of theshaft 85. In this way the -roller carrying ends of the blocks 82 areurged downwardly so that the rollers 80 press upon the conveyor feedrollers 63 and the roller carrying ends ofthe blocks |41 are urgedupwardly so that the rollers |46 press against the auxiliary feedrollers |45. The feed rollers |45 are carried upon the shaft |52 whichis provided with a gear |53 which meshes with and is driven from a corunresponding gear |54- carried by the conveyor shaft 38.

From this point the sheets are moved along the guide surfaces |60 of thearms |6| which are also pivoted to the shaft 85 and then drop upon 65the strips |63 above the normal delivery point from whence they may beremoved from the feeder. v

In the vacuum line ||5 there yis disposed a needle valve |65 which isadjusted to throttle the 7n flow of airfand is set at a point where,after the valve |06 has closed, it will prevent the suction frombuilding up sufficiently to return the piston |25 and the deflectingfingers |36 to their normal position before the tail of the rejectedsheet has 75 passed the ngers.

Various changes and modications may be made in the embodimentsillustrated and. described herein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the -following claims. 5

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet feeder of the class described, in y combination, a fixedfeed roll over which the 10 sheets successively pass on their waythrough the feeder, an intermittently actuatedpivoted detector deviceadapted to be moved' to a point adjacent said xed roll and spacedtherefrom a distance equal to the predetermined normal l5' thickness ofthe sheets each time a sheet is fed,

a deflecting switch normally positioned out of the ordinary path of thesheets at a point beyond y the detector device, a movable element onsaid detector device adapted to be actuated by mul- 20 tiple sheets orsheets of abnormal thickness, resilient means urging said switch towarddeiiecting position, means acting to prevent said movement, a vacuumcylinder, a piston in said cylinder and operatively connected with said25 preventing means, a source o f vacuum, a conduit providingcommunication between said cylinder andsaid source of vacuum, a valvefor opening said conduit'to the atmosphere, said valve being embodied insaid detector device, a valve actu- 30 ating element-adapted' to bemoved by abnormal or multiple sheets to open said valve and break thevacuum, whereby said switch is shifted to sheet deflecting position.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which as there is disposed insaid conduit at a point between the source of vacuum and said releasevalve, a constriction for preventing the rapid restoration of vacuum insaid cylinder so that the switch will not be restored until the abnormal40 sheets have passed.

3. In a sheet feeder of the class described, in combination, a fixedfeed roll over which the sheets successively pass on their way throughthe feeder, ,an intermittently actuated pivoted detector device adaptedto -be moved to a point adjacent said fixed roll and spaced therefrom adistance equal to the predetermined normal thickness of the sheets eachtime a sheet is fed, a defiecting switch normally positioned out of theordinary path of the sheets at a point beyond the detector device, amovable element on said detector device adapted to be actuated bymultiple sheets or sheets of abnormal thickness, resilient means urgingSaid switch toward--deflect- 55 ing position, means acting to preventsaid movement a vacuum cylinder, a piston in sa'id cylinder andoperatively connected with said preventing means, a source of vacuum, aconduit providing communication between said cylinder and said source ofvacuum, a valve for opening said conduit to the atmosphere,said valvebeing embodied in said detector device, a valve opening plunger adaptedto be moved by abnormal or multiple sheets to open said valve andbreakthe vacuum, whereby said switch is shifted to sheet deflectingposition, means for adjusting the relative position of said plunger andsaid valve to set the device for predetermined limits of thickness ofsheets. i.

4. In a defiecting sheet feederof the class described, in combination,means for forwarding sheets successively along a normal path ofmovement, comprising preliminary feeding means and a subsequent feedroll, a deflector switch dis-L posed between said preliminary feedingmeans and said feed roll, caliper means for actuating said switch todivert ab-normal sheets from said normal path and away from said feedroll along another path of movement, another 'feed roll adjacent saidsecond path for feeding said abnormal sheets toward a separatedestination, a plurality of pressure rollers pivotally mounted on a.common shaft, and means connecting certain of said pressure rollerstogether and resiliently urging some toward one feed roll and otherstoward the other feed roll.

5. In a deflecting sheet feeder of the class described, in combination,means for forwarding sheets successively along a normal path ofmovement, comprising preliminary feeding means and a subsequent feedroll, a deflector switch disposed between said preliminary feeding meansand said feed roll, a cross shaft upon which said deflector switch ispivotally mounted,l caliper means for actuating said switch to divertabnormal sheets from said normal path and away from said feed roll alonganother path of movement, another feed roll adjacent said`secondpath forfeeding said abnormal sheets toward a separate destination, a pair ofpressure rollers pivotally v mounted on said cross shaft, and resilientmeans connected to both of said pressure rollers to urge them inopposite directions to 'cooperate respectively with said feed rolls.

6. In a deiiecting sheet feeder of the class described, in combination,a supporting frame, means for forwarding sheets vsuccessively flatwisealong a definite path of movement on said frame, a point of deflectionon said path beyond which are disposed divergent paths for the sheets, aplurality of pivoted deflector tongues at said point, means forresiliently urging said tongues toward positions for deflecting sheetsinto one of said divergent paths, a transverse rod connecting all ofsaid tongues, a crank arm pivoted upon said frame adjacent said rod andadapted to contact the latter, a piston and a pneumatic cylinder inwhich it is adapted to move, linkage connecting said crank arm withwhich successive sheets are adapted to be moved fiatwise along adefinite path, a point of deflection on said path beyond which aredisposed divergent paths for the sheets, a deflector for divertingcertain of said sheets along one or the other of said divergent paths, apair of spaced feed rolls beyond said deilector each adapted to move thesheets along one of said divergent paths, a pair of cooperating pressurerollers disposed between said feed rolls, one of each pair adapted torespectively cooperate with one of said feed rolls, said pressurerollers mounted respectively on adjacent brackets which are pivotallycarried by a common shaft, a spring element secured at each endto apoint on the respective brackets, said points being both upon the sameside of a plane passed through the axis of said shaft, said springelement being bent around said shaft,

whereby said brackets are mutually urged in opposite directions aboutsaid shaft and the rollers into resilient contact with their respectivefeed rolls.

8. A switching arrangement for a defiecting sheet feeder or the likecomprising in combination, a'frame, a support on said frame along whichsuccessive sheets are adapted to be moved flatwise along a definitepath, a poi-nt of deflection. on said path beyond which are disposeddivergent paths for the sheets, a deflector tongue pivotally mountedupon a transverse shaft for diverting certain of said sheets along oneor the other of saiddivergent paths, a pair of spaced feed rolls beyondsaid deflector each adapted to move the sheets along one of saiddivergent paths, a pair of cooperating pressure rollers disposed betweensaid feed rolls, one of each pair adapted to respectively cooperate Withone of said feed rolls, said pressure rollers mounted respectively onadjacent brackets which are pivotally carried by said transverse shaft,a spring element secured at each end to a point on the respectivebrackets, said points being both upon thesame side of a plane passedthrough the axis of said shaft, said spring element being bent aroundsaid shaft, whereby said brackets are mutually \urged in oppositedirections about said shaft and the rollers into resilient Contact withtheir respective feed rolls.

9. In a sheet defiecting feeder of the class described, which includes adeflector element having an operating means controlled by variations influid pressure and a fluid conduit connecting said operating means witha source of pressure;

a calipering device which comprises a bracket adapted to be disposedadjacent the path of movement of sheets being fed, a plunger guided insaid bracket for reciprocating movement only and adapted to be moi/ edby the passage of abnormal or multiple sheets,v a passageway in saidbracket communicating with said conduit, a valve adapted to control thefluid pressure in said passageway and conduit, a lever fulcrumed on saidbracket and pivotal connections between said lever and said valve andbetween said lever and said plunger, whereby said valve will be actuatedby said plunger to control the uid pressure and thus the actuation ofsaid deiiector, at least one of said pivotal connections beingadjustable for regulating the desired thickness of sheets to bepermitted to pass said calipering device.

10. In a sheet deflecting feeder of the class described, Whch includes adeflector element having an operating means controlled by variations influid pressure and a fluid conduit connecting said operating means witha source of pressure; a calipering device which comprises a bracketadapted to be disposed adjacent the path of movementof sheets being fed,a plunger guided in said bracket for reciprocating movement only andadapted to be moved by the passage of abnormal or multiple sheets, apassageway in said bracket communicating with said conduit, areciprocating valve adapted to place said passageway into and out ofcommunication with the atmosphere, a lever fulcrumed yon-said bracketand pivotal connections at spaced points along its length with saidvalve and with said plunger whereby said valve will be actuated by saidplunger to control the fiuid pressure and thus the .actuation of saiddefiector, both of said pivotal connections being adjustable in order toset the device for'predetermined limits of thickness of the sheets.

' MORRIS SELLECK GUDGER.

